Invasion of the chain snatchers (Herald)

Invasion of the chain snatchers Goa is still amuch safer place than other parts of the country. Yet, despite the efforts of police and successive administrations, the crime graph is rising. And while those charged with ensuring the upkeep of law and order must bear primary responsibility, ordinary Goans too need to be aware of those who prey on us, their profiles and their modus operandi. After all, for citizens to be better informed and aware is half the battle won. With that aim in mind, HERALD, in a three- part series beginning today, focuses on the criminal gangs operating in Goa... TEAM HERALD teamherald@ herald- goa. com PANJIM: Even a cursory glance at the newspaper will show that at least one incident of chain- snatching is being reported nearly every other day from across the State. The situation has not yet come to a pass where Goans and visitors to our shores are contemplating roaming around with armed guards as some tourists and NRIs in other parts of India are reportedly contemplating, but fear is on the rise. The police has managed to detect only a few cases and cite various reasons for their lack of headway. Policemen on the ground spoken to extensively by the Herald Team said that the most prominent gang involved in chain and/ or bag snatching in Goa is the " Irani Gang". Equally worryingly, however, policemen on the beat said local youth too have been in recent times arrested for snatching and been found to be part of organized gangs. Several cases have been reported wherein the gang members on bikes pull gold chains off the neck of women without even slowing down their vehicle too much and flee from the scene at high speed. “ The snatchers are usually wearing helmets and everything happens at such a fast pace that the victim is usually not even able to memorize the number plate or the bike brand,” said an officer. Police said this gang of hardened criminals are hard nuts to crack. And they stick together. “ They change their statements every time they are questioned by investigating officers. The gold ornaments they snatch are systematically disposed off,” added another police officer who has had experience in dealing with cases of snatching. Their relatively easy escape from Goa is attributed to a number of reasons. “ There are many routes through which the members of this gang flee with their booty; poor security along the inter- state borders makes it even easier for them,” said an officer. The so- called Irani Gang also has a “ sub- specialization” apart from snatching ~ robbing women, especially more elderly women, of their ornaments while impersonating policemen. Ironically, Goa Police was oblivious about the existence of this gang and its operations in the State until a group was caught by Maharashtra police in the town of Kankavli, Sindhudurg, a few years ago. “ They confessed to robbing many women in Goa. But we could not achieve any breakthrough in terms of evidence to produce in court because by the time of their capture they had melted all the gold ornaments and claimed innocence,” said a senior officer. In the recent past, a number of susceptible women in Panjim, Taleigao, Agassaim and other more isolated locations across Goa have been targeted. Police say the gang's modus operandi is simple ~ target women wearing jewelry who are on foot and walking alone. The gang operates in groups of twos on motorcycles which are either stolen or have had their number plates changed. Once they have identified their target, they zero in on the victim identifying themselves as plainclothes police officers and “ advise” the woman not to wear ornaments when venturing outdoors citing a surge in the number of incidents of snatching. The tricksters then pretend to help the woman by wrapping the ornaments in a handkerchief or paper but switch the parcel whilst handing the wrapped ornaments back to the unsuspecting victim. By the time she finds out, it usually too late. Police confirmed that evidence of local gangs muscling in on what was earlier almost exclusively Irani Gang territory came during a recent crackdown at Old Goa that led to the arrest of quite a few locals from areas as diverse as Succoro, Boca de Vaca ( Panjim), Altinho, St Cruz and Chimbel for their involvement in chain snatching. “ These youth craving for quick money get involved in this crime and some have joined local gangsters,” said an officer. Another trend noticed by investigators is that youths from migrant clusters in Ramnagar, Chimbel, Moti Dongor and Khareband are also attempting to form their own criminal gangs when it comes to chain snatching. " We got wind of one such gang that was being attempted to be formed recently; we managed to raid the place but during the combing operation they fled and will probably return when they think the heat has died down,” an officer told Herald. Irani Gang ~ A dossier So, who are the members of the socalled Irani Gang? Police say they have acquired the moniker because they are supposedly of Persian ( i. e. Iranian) descent and most of them are settled in Hubli, Dharwad, Bidar in Karnataka and Kolhapur and some other parts of Maharashtra. Fluent in multiple languages, members of this gang are trained to appear personable and convincing smooth talkers. http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&eddate=8/20/2013